408 BOVINE PATHOLOGY. 



portions of bone ; also a distended condition of tlie joint 

 cavity, with the ordinary local signs of inflammation, the 

 swelling being particularly hard. Fever is apt to run 

 high, and when the diseased joint is in one of the limbs 

 lameness is intense. The discharge through the puncture 

 is at first profuse ; subsequently it becomes flocculent, and 

 sometimes sanguineous. 



Results. — Of these anchylosis is the most frequent unto- 

 ward condition ; to it all these cases tend. It is nature's 

 method of cure of the disorganised joint by establishing 

 bony connection between its constituent portions^ and thus 

 entirely obliterating its cavity. 



The best treatment in such cases is to secure as much 

 rest of the parts as possible, and to endeavour to close the 

 wound before inflammation is excited in the joint. This 

 may sometimes be done by adhesives or sutures. When 

 admissible, of course the wound must be thoroughly 

 cleansed. Later cold water must be applied continuously, 

 which will allow only enough inflammatory action for re- 

 parative purposes. More recently the application of a 

 smart blister around the joint has been found to be very 

 successful, since it serves to limit motion and close up 

 the wound by the swelling it causes. Severe constitu- 

 tional irritation may occur in these cases. Even where 

 anchylosis has resulted the patient will probably be able 

 to get sufficient food to fatten himself ; thus, we may deem 

 a cure of this nature fairly satisfactory in the ox, whereas 

 it would prove useless in the horse. Remarkable cases of 

 arthritis are those seen in ^^ copper- smoke disease.^' 



The Stifle-joint is very liable to injury from blows, 

 bruises, and other traumatic influences. The affected 

 limb is raised from the ground, and there are fluctuating 

 swellings, due to accumulations of synovia in the joints. 

 Weight on the limb causes extreme pain, and the animal 

 will not lie down, or when recumbent can scarcely rise. 

 Sometimes these cases last a very long time. 



Hydrops Articulorum — Dropsy of Joints — results either 

 from inflammation, or as a result of constitutional or local 

 debility. It is seen most frequently in young animals when 



